El 51 




m 



THEODORE ROOSEVELT 



MEMORIAL MEETING 



AT 



The Explorers Club 

MARCH 1, 1919. 



MR. VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON 

President, Explorers Club, Presiding 



The Chairman: I realize of course that is is im- 
possible for me to rise to this occasion, but I am somewhat 
consoled by the thought that there are perhaps few who 
could rise to it fully. We have to commemorate tonight, 
or to call to mind again, a man who is beyond praise. I 
wrote a letter about five years ago to Colonel Roosevelt, 
and I will repeat now what I said then, that it seemed to 
me he was already so distinguished that in the field ot 
exploration he could win no laurels which would add ma- 
terially to his fame. It has always seemed to me that no 
matter how distinguished an explorer is, he can never by 
that fact become the foremost figure in the world, as 
Roosevelt was in the minds of men during the last decade 
and more of his life. 

After his journey to Africa came his South Amer- 
ican trip. He had been an explorer in other fields 
before, but this was an important journey of geographic 
exploration. At the end of it, in a manner that was char- 
acteristic of him. he tried hard to get the world to acknow- 
ledge the merits of his fellow travelers, the men who had 
worked with him in South America, and especially of 
Colonel Rondon. I am aware that many here knew 
Roosevelt more intimately than I did. I hadn't met him 
until about six years ago, and since then my acquaintance 
with him has been limited to three meetings and half a 
dozen letters; but I did know something about his sup- 
port of and interest in Colonel Rondon. It seemed to me 
that in relation to South America Colonel Rondon was 
really a big figure, and feeling that way I named a cape 
on the west coast of one of our new lands after him, and 
requested Colonel Roosevelt to notify Colonel Rondon of 
this fact, saying at the same time that it was the least I 

1 



could do to recognize a great work. In reply I received 
a letter, a part of which I will read to you, and which is 
thoroughly characteristic of one side of Colonel Roosevelt. 
I omit the parts personal to myself. 

"My dear Mr. Stefansson: Today I received 
your letters of May 17, 1916 and February 9, 1917. 
I haven't the faintest idea of whether this letter 
will reach you or not, but I must write to tell you 
. . . how gratified I am at what you have done 
about Colonel Rondon. He has had no proper 
recognition of his really great feats, although I 
tried to get both the English and the American 
Geographic Societies to do as they ought to have 
done for him. My own feats need no special rec- 
ognition. About all I would say of myself is that 
compared with other Presidents, Prime Ministers 
and the like I did some work worth doing. I don't 
come, as Colonel Rondon does, in the explorer's 
class, which would include. . . Peary, Amund- 
sen, Nansen, Scott, Shackleton, Livingston, Baker, 
Speke, Grant, Hedin, Swinefurth, and the other 
men who did very big things. , . . " 

I think that list of names is striking in itself. It is a 
very unconventional thing to do, but really I would like to 
know how many in this room, members of the Explorers 
Club, know who Swinefurth was. Will those who know 
who he was please rise. (9 of those present rise.) 

A Member: I have an indistinct recollection of who 
he was. 

The Chairman: (continuing) Nine. Even we who 
are specialists in exploration know little about him, 
and perhaps 3 or 4, on a chance, out of the 8 or 9, who have 
heard of Swinefurth could justify the statement Colonel 
Roosevelt made that he was one of the great figures among 
explorers. But I know from a conversation with Roose- 

2 

On May 15th, 1918, Colon el. Roosevelt and the Brazilian Ambassador 
(da Gama) particr«ating. the American Geographical Society award- 
cd the David Livingstone Centenary Medal to Colonel Rondon. 



~t^ 



velt that his mind was clear as to what Swinefurth had 
done and just why he is among the great explorers of all 
time. 

"Of course I am glad I had the chance to explore 
an unexplored river and put it on the map. I was 
past middle age at the time, and knew this would 
be the last thing of the kind I could hope to do. In 
my case the exploration was its own reward. But 
Colonel Rondon ought to have the full recognition 
which he has not received, and I shall write him at 
once of your just and generous offer ..." 

That was characteristic of the man who knew things 
which the rest of us didn't know. He not only knew 
w^here honor was due, but he was always taking trouble 
to see that the laurel wreathes go to those to whom they 
of right belonged. 

It seemed to me Colonel Roosevelt was practically a 
specialist in everything. The first time I saw him he dis- 
cussed two things that I believed I knew more about than 
any other person in America, and he certainly knew more 
about those things than anybody else I have talked with. 
I have talked frequently with professors in American Uni- 
versities whose special province it is to deal with the his- 
tory and literature of Iceland, and I don't think one of them 
had the feeling of Icelandic literature nor the grasp of Ice- 
landic history that Roosevelt did. I don't know anybody 
in America from whom he could have borrowed them, be- 
cause I never met any one else who had them. He prob- 
ably was a pioneer in this as in many other things. The 
same spirit of discovery probably took him into Icelandic 
history that took him into the Brazilian jungle. Perhaps 
Lord Bryce, when he was in Washington, borrowed from 
Roosevelt an interest in Iceland, or perhaps Roosevelt 
Kvas guided by Bryce, or perhaps they were in this inde- 
pendent. In any case it is interesting that Lord Bryce has 



recently expressed in a book the same opinion that Roose- 
velt expressed to me verbally six years earlier — that the 
classic literature of Iceland is in excellence intermediate 
between the classic literatures of Greece and Rome. I 
quote here Roosevelt and Bryce together both to show- 
that here as often Roosevelt was the pioneer and to point 
out to anyone who disagrees with his estimate of Icelandic 
literature that if he erred, he at least erred in goodly com- 
pany. 

He was, as you know, interested in everything, and 
therefore naturally in my project now before the Govern- 
ments of Canada and the United States in regard to the 
musk ox. It takes a long time to overcome the inertia of 
the ordinarily intelligent person. For instance, there is a 
member of my own expedition, who had seen musk oxen, 
and had been in the North a few years, and when he read 
in the newspapers of my plans he said: "If Stefansson can 
get away with this I shall lose my faith in human nature." 
He said this of the identical proposition I sent to Roose- 
velt, and the project, the attempt to carry out which would 
have made my imaginationless friend lose his faith in 
human nature, brought from the Colonel the following 
comment i 

"I most emphatically wish your project well 
Our domestic animals are merely those 
of Asia, because it was in Asia that civilization 
first arose, and in consequence as it penetrated to 
other continents men found it easier to use the 
animals already tamed than to tame new ones . . 

It is a capital misfortune that the musk ox has 
not been tamed. To tame it means the possibility 
in Northernmost America of a high civilization 
otherwise impossible." 

It took me a full hour of talking the other day to con- 
vince on this point, one of the prominent officials at Ot- 
tawa, and he is now enthusiastically behind this scheme. 



It didn't take an hour's talking with Colonel Roosevelt, 
and when he was behind a thing he was behind it for all he 
was worth. When he was in the midst of his last politi- 
cal campaign which took so much of his powers, I appealed 
to him to help me interest the Government of Denmark 
in the same musk ox project, about which in Seattle I had 
a chance to talk with Prince Axel of Denmark. This 
might seem a small and foreign thing in the heat ot a 
campaign, but as always, Roosevelt was interested and 
willing to help. I knew Prince Axel would see Colonel 
Roosevelt, and thinking that a Royal Prince might be 
forgetful, I wrote the Colonel I hoped he would put a 
flea in his ear when he saw him at Oyster Bay. Here is 
the letter I got in reply. 

"I don't know that I shall see Prince Axel, but I 
shall certainly do all that I can to back up the musk 
ox project if I do see him. If I can do anything with 
the Canadian Government, or our own, command 
me. 

I didn't know until Mr. Akeley told me fifteen or twen- 
ty minutes ago that I was supposed to speak of Colonel 
Roosevelt as an explorer. I don't think it is worth while 
to go into a mere eulogy. I understand this is a meeting 
where we came to tell and hear the intimate things we 
knew about him. 

We have with us tonight Mr. Russell Coles who is 
famous for his fishing of the devil fish. Some years ago I 
read an article of his in the Journal of the American Mu- 
seum about devil fish fishing, if that is good English. The 
article impressed me, but I didn't know until tonight that 
it was that same article that impressed Colonel Roosevelt, 
and brought Mr. Coles and Colonel Roosevelt together. 
I have great pleasure in introducing Mr. Coles. 



Russell J. Coles 

Never before tonight have I stood upon any platform 
to address an audience. However, when the invitation 
came I at once accepted the privilege of speaking to you 
in honor of the memory of my best friend, Colonel Theo- 
dore Roosevelt. I realized that I could tell of incidents 
which have occurred during our close personal relation- 
ship of the past few years which might help others to know 
him as I knew him. 

"Harpooning Devilfish," by Colonel Roosevelt, in the 
September, 1917, Scribner's Magazine, tells so well the 
story of our meeting, and of his last expedition into the 
great out-of-doors that I will only touch upon it briefly, 
in order to introduce certain pictures, some of which have 
already been published. The April, 1916, issue of the 
American Museum Journal contained my article "My 
Fight with the Devilfish," and I will add that a most accur- 
ate reproduction of the fish referred to in this article, is now 
on exhibition in the American Museum of Natural History. 
This article brought from Colonel Roosevelt an invitation 
for me to visit him at Sagamore Hill. I called on him, and 
we had a long conversation. Several letters, and another 
visit followed within a month, and his training as a har- 
pooner was begun. 

In March, 1917, I assembled my outfit and a small crew, 
composed of picked men from several crews which I had 
used for many years at various points on our coast, in my 
work of fighting the big and dangerous game of the sea; 
and on March 25th, I arrived in Punta Gorda, Florida, 
accompanied by Colonel Roosevelt and my secretary, and 
that afternoon we made the run of 35 miles down the coast 
on a small passenger and freight boat, to a point where 
my crew and floating camp were in readiness. (Showing a 
picture.) 

A good supper, and a long talk of details for the com- 
ing fight of the morrow followed, and all slept together in 



the one large room of the boat. After breakfast on the 
following morning the crew shown in this picture «5tartecl 
in the launch (showing a picture.) We were soon out 
on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and it was not long 
before a devilfish was sighted by the lookout, aria Colonel 
Roosevelt climbed out on the cap of the launch with har- 
poon raised, and I with another harpoon got up by his 
side, and all was in readiness (showing two pictures.) 

The devilfish was swimming rapidly toward us, and 
we ran full speed ahead, and 1 was about to give the order 
to strike, when I saw that this was a poor specimen and 
that there were larger devilfish ahead, so instead of giving 
the order to strike, I snapped the order "hard off" to the 
man at the wheel The devilfish was within harpooning 
distance, and at the first sound of my voice, the Colonel, 
mistaking it for the order to strike, cast his harpoon, but 
by a deft movement, which I only told him of months 
afterward, I diverted his stroke so that he missed the fish. 

A larger specimen was then selected, and at the word 
it was deeply fastened by both harpoons, — his harpoon 
being the principal one, and mine only driven into the 
fish as an auxiliary in case of need, and although I har- 
pooned in this way both of the devilfish killed by him, 
yet on neither fish was my harpoon necessary or of mater- 
ial aid, as both fish were struck by him in exactly the cor- 
rect spot, as 1 had previously indicated by drawings. It 
is w^orthy of especial note to say that he had never before 
balanced himself upon his feet on the cap of a small boat, 
jumping in a choppy sea, and had never before cast a har- 
poon at a living creature, yet the cast was perfect, and the 
iron went true and drove for 2 feet 4 inches clear to the 
socket through the heaviest and toughest structure of the 
fish. As the irons left our hands I yelled "down," and 
down we went, holding, as I had directed, and in an instant 
the fight was on. The modest manner in which he de- 
scribed those two fights in his article does not fully do him 

7 



justice for his truly phenomenal achievements on that day, 
as fighting devilfish is a sport so filled with thrills and dan- 
gers that few of even trained harpooners will ever engage 
sucessfully in it, for situations arise, and did arise on that 
day, which are very well illustrated by this picture (show- 
ing a picture,) which is quite an accurate drawing by Mr. 
Albert Operti, and is reproduced from my article referred 
to in the American Museum Journal. 

The fight was short and sharp, and as he delivered the 
death blow I slapped him on the back and exclaimed, "Now 
you have added the killing of the most dangerous game 
of the sea, to that of the land, — everybody holler!" We 
did all holler, and I doubt if twice our number of Buc- 
caneers of old ever sent a louder yell across those historic 
waters. That fish was quickly towed the half mile or more 
to the beach, and we returned, and after a bigger fight 
killed a bigger devilfish and also towed it to the side of the 
first. 

The heavy work of getting the devilfish firmly fast on 
the beach then began, and for this purpose I had provided 
several heavy steel gaff hooks which 1 had myself forged, 
and which have sustained a strain of 1 ,000 pounds. I was 
hauling on one, and had two of my strongest men on an- 
other next to me, while the Colonel and others were pull- 
ing in other positions. Failing to move the fish I changed 
the two men, and the Colonel took their gaff hook. I 
waited for the aid of a small wave, and gave the order 
"now," and at the word I heard a sn?p and a fall, and saw 
Colonel Roosevelt turn a complete somersault on the hard 
beach; he had broken that gaff hook. 

To the four men of my crew, feats of physical prowess 
stand as the highest virtue, and although they had lived 
their lives among hard, strong men, never before had 
they seen a feat of strength such as this, and from that 
instant, he became to them truly a superman, although 
they had been prepared for anything, by seeing his prow- 

8 



ess in standing on the cap of the boat and in using for the 
first time both harpoon and lance, but they did not know, 
as I knew, the tremendous amount of heavy physical labor 
that he had gone through with in preparing for just this 
one day of superman sport, for, in perfect preparedness 

for every detail, nothing was ever too small to receive his 

closest attention. 

After a swim in the Gulf, and spending some time 
with the prizes, we returned to the floating camp and had 
an early dinner, then returned with cameras and took a 
number of pictures, two of which I will now show, and 
these will close the pictures. 

The main object of the expedition was then accom- 
plished, and for a week we enjoyed to the fullest the plea- 
sures of that interesting country, which included quite a 
number of exciting incidents. Since then we have ex- 
changed letters almost week]}, and I have visited him al- 
most monthly, and several times we began making our 
plans for other expeditions, but for good reasons they 
were postponed; but at last we arranged for another ex- 
pedition to the yame field, and we were to have been ac- 
companied by his son. Captain Archie Roosevelt. This 
night of March 1 st was to have been our first night on 
board the boat, far down on the Southern Gulf Coast of 
Florida. 

In the life of this most wonderful of men his many 
fine points of character stand out, each so clearly and dis- 
tinctly that it is impossible to say in what one thing he 
reached greater success than in the others. Therefore, the 
order in which I cite some of his many virtues is not mtend- 
ed to give precedence to any one thing. His mtense 
patriotism, and the story of how by his courageous 
speeches and writings he became the greatest of all vit^l 
forces in bringing the patriotism of Americans up to its 
high plane of effectiveness, has been so well told by the 
great orators and writers of the world during the last few 



weeks, that I will only add that from close personal know- 
ledge I know that the best that has been said and written 
of him is true. 

As our acquaintance ripened into the close confiden- 
tial friendship, I realized how greatly he had been maligned 
by the press. You all have read hundreds of times in the 
past that he was an egotist and a braggart, when in truth 
he was one of the most modest men in speaking or writ- 
ing of his own achievements that I have ever known, for 
he at all times belittled his own work in order to give 
greater credit to those associated with him, and those who 
knew him best heartily endorse this point. He has been 
accused of using coarse language, when no one spoke the 
English language more correctly than he did. You usually 
saw him pictured with teeth showing, and in the act of 
making rather awkward gestures, and for a time I was 
puzzled, as I had so often heard him speak without noting 
these points, until last June, as I sat in front of him and 
listened to him making a grand speech. Next to me sat 
a press photographer, with camera focussed, and watch- 
ing* him intently. After Colonel Roosevelt had beerij 
speaking for more than an hour, suddenly I saw the teeth 
and the gesture wanted, and at that instant the patient 
photographer won, for I heard the click of the shutter, and 
then it was all clear to me, for I realized that reporters and 
press photographers were being sent out to get Roosevelt 
stories and Roosevelt pictures to conform to the popular 
idea of him. 

He was a great field naturalist, and writer of natural 
history and big game stories, yet in this, as in all other 
fields of his varied activities, he at all times showed his 
absolute freedom from jealousy, by urging all who could 
tell these stories truly to publish them for the education 
of all. 

Time is too limited tonight for me to tell of many things 
which I would like to tell, but I cannot close without say- 

10 



ing that my most touching memories of him are of his 
beautiful home life, and of his love of home, family and 
friends. In this connection I will read you one of hts 
last letters, which I had just received and was reading when 
the news of his death reached me. 

The Kansas City Star. 

Office of New York Office 

Theodore Roosevelt 347 Madison Avenue 

January I, 1919 
Dear Coles- 

First, I want to say that all this family regard 
your letter to Richard as about the nicest Christmas 
letter a small boy ever received, and you give a 
most fascinating glimpse of your own Christmas. 
Next, my doctors tell me that in all probability I 
shall be able to go with you on March 1 st. There 
is, of course, however, the possibility that my con- 
valescence may be slower than they suppose. At 
present I am utterly worthless. I hope you under- 
stand how deeply I appreciate your taking Archie 
along. My great desire is that he shall get a devil- 
fish. He is a pretty good boy, and of course his 
crippling makes it hard for him to enjoy the kind 
of sports he loves, and which you and I at his age 
enjoyed, and I very deeply appreciate your giving 
him the chance as you have done. 

Faithfully yours. 

Mr. Russell J. Coles, T. Roosevelt. 

Danville, Va. 

In closing I will say that as a member of the Roosevelt 
Permanent Memorial National Committee I have recom- 
mended that the most fitting tribute to his memory, and 
one in which the whole Nation and world can partici- 
pate, will be the creation of a great Roosevelt Memorial 

11 



Museum, to contain books, papers, statues, pictures, tro- 
phies, a large auditorium, a publication department, and 
many other things. While there should be big game, yet 
it should be exhibited in a manner to bring out the fact that 
he did not kill for the love of killing, or blood lust, but as 
a clean sportsman naturalist, and that he was truly the 
world's greatest protector of animal and bird life. In the 
auditorium there should be frequent lectures and speeches 
by men who knew him. The publication department 
should be the main feature, with its Roosevelt Museum 
Journal, and other publications and reprints. Under its 
own management the Museum could be conducted as an 
independent organization, modeled after that of the large 
modern museums, and financed along lines which would 
give to all the privilege of contributing, and by sale of the 
Roosevelt Museum Journal and other publications, and 
by membership fees; or it might be found advisable to 
erect and conduct this Museum as an annex to some other 
museum. 

The truth about Roosevelt should be presented in a 
wa> to make of his life an example to posterity, in a man- 
ner to lead men to better and cleaner lives, and for the 
education and uplift of humanity. 

The Chairman: Major Anthony Fiala, who first 
won distinction in the North, will tell us of Colonel Roose- 
velt in the South. — Major Anthony Fiala. 

Major Anthony Fiala 

Like our leader I feel my inability to do justice to the 
subject of this meeting; and believe with the great French 
minister, "The Tiger of France," that we have lost the 
greatest statesman in the world. It brings to mind the 
statement made by Clemenceau some years ago, "I cannot 
understand you Americans — you have the greatest states- 
man in the world living in your midst at Oyster Bay — yet 
you are looking for someone else to be your President. 
Verily, a prophet is without honor in his own country. 

12 



There are statesmen who do their own will without 
thought particularly of the people. There are those who 
are forced to do the will of the people, and there are states- 
men who anticipate the feelings and wants of the people, 
who have the prophetic instinct and are saviors of their 
people. Roosevelt was one of these in the highest sense 
of the word; he was a preacher of righteous government 
and honest living. 

If a book had been written in these days like the Scrip- 
ture of old, we would read something like that found in the 
book of Samuel. Probably you might think that is far- 
fetched! But you will remember that in Samuel the Spirit 
of the Lord spoke and said, Samuel, the people have not 
rejected you, but they have rejected me," and the Israelites 
paid for their neglect of the prophets* warnings by a long 
series of wars. 

In 1 91 4 an Englishman, a Frenchman and several Ger- 
mans told me that if Colonel Roosevelt had been the Presi- 
dent of the United States at that time that the war in 
Europe would not have occurred; that the Kaiser would 
not have dared! 

In these days, with Anarchy raising its dangerous 
head, we realize what a wonderful champion for the right 
we have lost. Roosevelt believed in God, in humanity 
and in the people. He looked ahead with the eyes of a 
Seer, like the prophets of old. He was oft times many 
years ahead of his time in realizing what was good for the 
people. That is why some misunderstood him and because 
of his sterling honesty the hide-bound politicians hated 
him. He purified business. Of course the knave and the 
crook came down in the dust from their high places as a 
consequence. 

On our trip through Brazil, we all felt the honesty of 
the man and his unselfish attitude. He was a good fellow 
to have in any camp party. He always wanted to do 
his share of the work and was the soul of good spirits 

13 



and comradeship. He called Cherrie, Miller and myself 
his "Three Buccaneers" and it was a real affection for him 
that we will carry through life, an affection we felt was 
reciprocated. 

We often wondered at his endurance. A hunting trip 
he took part in on New Years' Day will illustrate. 

On New Year's eve we tied up to the bank of the stream 
in the thick tropical forest, and took to our hammocks, for 
on the morrow was to be a jaguar hunt. 

Brazilian custom is to take a tiny cup of coffee on aris- 
ing, most delicious coffee it is, too. Breakfast is served a't 
eleven or noon — rather a hardship for the Americans in the 
party accustomed to good breakfasts at home, particularly 
for the Colonel, for he always preferred a substantial break- 
fast and a light lunch, often no lunch at all. That morn- 
ing we each had our cup of coffee and then Colonel Roose- 
velt and Colonel Rondon and Kermit got their guns. In 
the party there was also a fine athletic-looking Brazilian 
about thirty-five years old, and a tough, sinewy, grizzled 
captain of police who seemed about eight or ten years 
older. Several native guides completed the personnel of 
the part;/. 

The hunters cut their way into the forest just a little 
before seven o'clock. Harper (the Colonel's secretary) 
ani I left a few minutes later to see if we could get some 
birds. The forest was a maze of large vines, spring plants 
and all sorts of tropical vegetation. It demanded constant 
use of the machete to force our way through the entangle- 
ment. We had hoped to see some birds around the water, 
but were disappointed. I spied, however, a muscovy duck 
seated on the dead limb of what had once been a magnifi- 
cent tree. The bird was over a hundred feet from the 
ground but one could not mistake the characteristic white 
patch on the wing. 

She was outside the range of Harper's shotgun. So I 
fired at the duck with my rifle — a twenty-two calibre — and 

14 



brought the bird fluttering toward the ground. On strik- 
ing the green she started off on a surprisingly swift run 
with Harper and myself in chase. It was an exciting chase 
toward the forest with the thought troubling us that the 
bird would disappear among the dark trees. But I caught 
sight of the duck going over a rise of ground and fired 
quickly, killing it. The bird had two bullet wounds, the 
last one clear through the body. 

In the long chase after the duck we had lost sense of 
direction somewhat and in consequence had a difficult time 
reaching the ship. I knew the general direction for I had 
my compass, but in the maze of swamps and trees with a 
river that moves through the forest in numerous snaky 
curves one had to be very careful. It was hot, tiring work 
cutting a way back through the forest, for we had lost the 
way we blazed in. It was past noon when we finally cut 
through the thick growth on the river and were delighted 
to see our Fteamcr in front of us. 

Taking our prize aboard, we were surprised to find 
that the Colonel's party had not returned. We were wor- 
ried, for we had reason to know how easy it was for any- 
one to lose his way in the interminable forest. We were 
hungry, but we all waited for the return of the hunting 
pf rty before eating, for we knew that they had nothing 
with them to eat. They had not expected a long hunt. 
At four in the afternoon a tired guide came in from the 
forest and dropped down on deck to rest against the 
steamer's rail. He stated that the party had followed the 
jaguars so far toward the south that they could not return 
to the boat, that they decided to cut through to the river 
from where the hunt would end. Early in the morning he 
had been sent back with the information and instruction 
for the captain of the steamer to go down stream and look 
for the party. The guide was all in. He said he had been 
traveling along the river bank since eleven o'clock, for that 
was the only way he could find the steamer. The vegeta- 

15 



tion is thickest on the river bank and the poor fellow had 
been obliged to cut his way down the whole distance with 
his machete. 

It was about five o'clock when we were hailed from the 
shore and breaking through the vegetation we saw the 
smiling face of Colonel Roosevelt, who was calling out to 
us "Happy New Year" in French which the Brazilians 
aboard would understand, also saying that he was in time 
for afternoon tea. The party aboard cheered as a boat was 
sent ashore. It returned bringing Colonel Roosevelt, Colo- 
nel Rondon and a guide. We asked for Kermit. The 
Colonel said that he was following the jaguar when they 
saw^ him last but admonished us not to worry, that he 
learned not to worry about Kermit in Africa. We then 
asked about the two Brazilians, and Colonel Rondon ans- 
wered in Portuguese that they were played out and lying 
on the ground about a kilometer back in the woods, and 
that they needed a relief party to bring them in some food 
and drink before they could reach the steamer. He also 
stated that Colonel Roosevelt and he had carried the rifles 
of these two men in addition to their own, their shoes, too, 
for several hours, until they could go no further; then 
they had been obliged to leave them to await relief. The 
Brazilians looked in wonder at each other, with expres- 
sions of admiration for the "Americain Presidente." 

Colonel Rondon then told of their adventure and their 
condition — for both were soaking wet — ^with the expla- 
nation that Colonel Roosevelt and he had crossed several 
lagoons infected with alligators and reptiles, by swimming, 
holding their rifles over their heads with one hand and 
swimming with the other. Both of their watches were 
ruined, but the men were both very happy, and the Col- 
onel fairly bubbled with good humor. We ate a combined 
breakfast, luncheon, afternoon tea and dinner together. 
Kermit came in at dark, completing the happiness of the 
party. He had brought with him the two missing ones. 

16 



The party had not succeeded in getting near enough 
to the jaguars for a shot. Their New Year hunt, however, 
had impressed the party with the stamina and enthusiasm 
of the Colonel. 

There is another phase of his character which has been 
demonstrated in many a crucial period of his life, — his 
great moral courage. An incident occurred during his trip 
through Chile that I will give you as I remember it as it 
was told to me by the Colonel's secretary who was present 
at the occasion. The people of the South American coun- 
tries were very courteous and when our party arrived at 
any South American port the Colonel was always received 
by the Governor of the state or President of the city. They 
always furnished the Colonel an escort of an Army and 
Navy officer as a sort of guard of honor. They were splen- 
did talented young fellows who could always speak French 
in addition to Spanish or Portuguese. 

In the city of Santiago, Chile, there was a school which 
had been founded by the Presbyterian Board of Missions. 
It had originally been a Mission House but had been used 
as a school and called the American College. Its leader 
wished Colonel Roosevelt to visit the place and had in- 
vited him. 

When Colonel Roosevelt arrived at Santiago, Chile, the 
authorities there provided the Army and Navy officer but 
in addition a priest was detailed to help take care of the 
Colonel. For Santiago was the home of the Archbishop 
of Chile and his Palace was there and also the great Cathe- 
dral. The priest had been a number of years in Canada so 
spoke English perfectly. He was a great acquisition to the 
party, for the Colonel was always an animated questioner 
and the priest who could answer his questions in his own 
language afforded him much pleasure. The priest came to 
his quarters often and Colonel Roosevelt found that he 
was full of information ; he knew the history of the coun- 
try and its institutions. 

17 



One day the priest came in and said to the Colonel, 
"Colonel Roosevelt, the Archbishop has charged me to 
ask you if you would accept a banquet in your honor at 
his palace?" The Colonel said, "1 thank the Archbishop 
most heartily; I would like to meet him, but at not so for- 
mal a thing as a banquet. Could we not have a little lun- 
cheon or tea just with the Archbishop and several others 
if he wishes it?" 

So they had the luncheon, a very informal affair it was 
called. But the band of music alone was over a hundred 
pieces — and all the representatives of Santiago w^ere there. 
They had a wonderful time. The occasion was a memor- 
able one for the city of Santiago. 

The next morning the priest called upon the Colonel 
and felicitated him upon the wonderful occasion of the 
afternoon before. The Colonel grew quite enthusiastic 
as he inquired what this one and that one had said and as 
the priest translated the Spanish speeches of the day before 
into good English. 

They had a most delightful time; it was almost a love 
feast. When the Colonel was feeling at his best the priest 
said, "Colonel Roosevelt, there is a little matter which has 
been troubling the Archbishop. In this town there is a 
little institution called the American College; it is an in- 
significant and mean little affair, altogether beneath your 
attention. But we have heard that the leaders of this in- 
stitution have intended to invite you to their place. Prob- 
ably they have done so already and, if so, of course, Col- 
onel Roosevelt, we expect that you will not accept so mean 
an invitation after you have been a guest of the Arch- 
bishop and been entertained at his palace. 

The Colonel looked at him and said: "How dare you, 
Sir! Have you not read. Sir, that I would not be dictated 
to by the Pope of Rome? And you, Sir, have the supreme 
affrontery to try to dictate to me whose invitations I shall 
accept and whose invitations I shall not! I love a good 

18 



Catholic! I love a good Protestant! I love any man or 
woman who is helping these poor people to understand 
the light of Christ! But I hate a bigot, Sir! And you, Sir, 
are one of these contemptible bigots who down in these 
countries place these poor people in ignorance and keep 
them there! Get out of my quarters, Sir, and don't you 
ever dare come in here again, Sir!" And the priest went 
out. 

When I was returning from the Brazilian trip in the lat- 
ter part of April, 1914, just after the firing at Vera Cruz, 
the steamer I was on stopped at the Barbados. I was in- 
troduced to two Mexicans who came aboard there. When 
they heard that I had been with Colonel Roosevelt in Brazil, 
one of the said: "Ah, Senor Fiala, you have been with the 
great Colonel Roosevelt in Brazil: So glad to know you. 
Do you know, Senor Fiala, that if Colonel Roosevelt had 
been the President of the United States of North America 
and he had asked us to fire a salute of 21 shots, Senor 
Fiala, we would have fired 23." 

Now, gentlemen, I will not take any more of your time. 
I think this little incident will give you an idea of the won- 
derful moral •:»nira«g'" of Colonel Roosevelt. He loved 
truth and honesty and truth for truth's sake, not for what 
he was going to get out of it. That is what this Club is 
standing for, for the sake of true exploration. The kind 
of a man we delight to honor is a man who recognizes his 
companions, who believes in exploration for what it will 
do for humanity, and v/ho loves his fellow men. He 
thought of his fellow men. He was a great American. If 
we could have only seen v/ith his clear vision, what he 
prophesied, this country v. c uld be better off. What a man 
sows, so shall he also reap is true of nations as well as of 
individuals. 

The CliairniD.n: In twenty-nine trips to South Amer- 
ica George Cherrie has won many distinctions. The 
distinction that brings him here tonight is that he was a 

19 



friend and companion of Colonel Roosevelt. Naturally I 
was far away, and cannot say anything of personal know- 
ledge about the trip, but I have heard from several, and 
from Colonel Roosevelt's own son that it is probable the 
Colonel would never have come back if George Cherrie 
had not been with him. 



Mr. George K. Cherrie 

Just a moment — I don't know what I am going to say 
tonight ; there is so much that might be said, and I feel that 
I can say so little. All that I shall attempt to tell you is 
a few of the little personal reminiscences. But first — Mr. 
Coles has told you that some people have stated that Col- 
onel Roosevelt frequently used rough vulgar language. 
Mr. Coles has himself contradicted the statement and Major 
Fiala has emphasized the uprightness and dignity of his 
character, and I wish I might emphasize them a great deal 
more. In the eight months of our journey together I never 
heard a vulgar word from Theodore Roosevelt's lips. Never 
once. It was one of the things that I think speaks most 
for his character. He was always clean, mentally, spiritu- 
ally, bodily. 

Now as I have said, I don't feel competent to tell you 
much about Colonel Roosevelt; but I do want to bring in 
a few of the incidents that happened on the Brazilian 
trip, one or two that have occurred since that trip; 
and perhaps say just a little in a lighter vein. After 
I learned that I was to accompany the Colonel on the 
journey through Brazil I felt I was hardly worthy. One 
day he called me down to his office, he was with the "Out- 
look " at that time, for a little conference. After we had 
talked the journey matters over, I don't know just why, 
but it came into my mind that the Colonel was a little bit 
opposed to people drinking anything stronger than water, 
and I thought we had better discuss that. He was busy 

20 



writing at his desk, and I sitting off at one side and behind 
him when 1 said, "Colonel I think perhaps you ought to 
know a little more about me before you take me on this 
journey, I think I should tell you that I occasion- 
ally drink a little." The Colonel went on writing for 
some time. Finally he whirled around and said, "Cherrie, 
do you drink?" I said, "Occasionally I take a drink." He 
said, "Cherrie, what do you drink?" Well, that was a 
pretty hard question to answer but I replied, "It depends 
on what is available. The next question was, "How 
much do you drink?" I said, "All I want." To which 
he replied, "That is all right; just keep on." 

I have always thought it strange, since I had the 
opportunity to know him and know hira intimately, — be- 
cause I feel that I did know him very intimately, — how 
any man could be brought in close personal contact with 
Colonel Rosevelt without loving the man. 

I am going to tell you of an incident that occurred on 
the steamer on our way to Brazil. I don't know whether 
Mr. Fiala remembers it or not. A manufacturer whose 
name I have forgotten, quite a wealthy man, from one of 
the western cities, was a passenger, with his wife and 
daughter. One morning on deck I met our friend the 
western manufacturer. We talked for a few minutes, 
when he turned to me and said, "How about this fellow 
Roosevelt?" I replied, "I don't understand you." "Well," 
he says, "I don't think much of the man." I said, "I 
am very sorry, but I don't see that I can assist you in any 
way." However I turned to him and asked, "Do you 
know Colonel Roosevelt?" "No," he said, "I don't 
and I don't want to." I said "Your's is a pretty bad case." 
Just at that moment Colonel Roosevelt came on deck 
walking toward us. As we passed I stopped, and without 
asking the man's permission, I said, "Colonel Roosevelt, 
I would like to have you meet my friend Mr." so and so. 
The manufacturer gave a very reserved "glad to know 

21 



you," but finally unbent and we three stood and talked 
together. Under the Colonel's magnetism I saw our 
manufacturer was getting interested, (and the Colonel 
was always interested in meeting people), so 1 slipped 
away. Coming back a little later I found the two walking 
up and down the deck together, discussing problems, — I 
don't know what. Here I must go back a little in my 
story. The manufacturer had told me, before the Colonel 
appeared, that at the previous election he had traveled 
5,000 miles to vote against Roosevelt. The next morning 
on deck the first man I met was the manufacturer. He 
came down towards me w^alking rapidly, and said, "Mr. 
Cherrie, yesterday I told you I travelled 5,000 miles to 
vote against Roosevelt; today I would travel 10,000 miles 
to vote for him." 

The Colonel was always able to make friends, and 
made them very very quickly. Now I am going to tell 
a story about him before I forget it, because it illustrates 
the man. He was always doing things for someone else. 
He wasn't thinking of Roosevelt; he was thinking of 
others always. The story is of a man by the name of 
Cherrie; it isn't this Cherrie. After we returned from 
our South American trip the Colonel made a campaign 
trip throughout the middle west, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and 
several of the other States. I had expected to accompany 
him, and was with him at several points, but when he 
came into Iowa, my native State, I wanted especially to 
be with him. Before he left New York I told him I would 
meet him at Boone, Iowa. However, finding I could not 
keep the engagement, I sent a telegram that I was 
unable to meet him at Boone, but would meet him at 
Ames, Iowa. O. K. Davis was campaign manager at the 
time, and told me the story. He said, "We reached Ames, 
and the Colonel asked, 'Davis, hasn't Cherrie shown up 
yet? " "No," said Davis, "I haven't seen him." They 
were in a little hotel on the second floor, with a veranda 

22 



in front of the room. There was a crowd gathered, and 
the Colonel stepping out on the veranda looked over the 
crowd, and called out "Is George Cherrie present?" Some- 
body said "Yes." "Well, come in," said the Colonel. A 
few minutes later there was a knock on the door, and 
in response to Davis* "Come in," a young boy walked 
in. Davis asked, "Young man, what do you want?" The 
boy replied, "My name is George Cherrie." Davis looked 
at him and said, "George, you have changed consider- 
ably." However, he invited the boy to come in and 
opening the door to the room where Colonel Roosevelt 
was busy writing, pushed him in. The Colonel looked 
around, and said 'Good morning, young man; who are 
you?' The boy said, 'I am George Cherrie. You called me 
to come in.' The Colonel whirled around and looking 
him square in the face said, 'Yes, you are a Cherrie.' " 
This George Cherrie was my brother's son. After the 
boy had explained just who he was, the Colonel asked, 
"Are you busy today?" "No." "Well I am going to Des 
Moines tonight," — in the meantime the Colonel had 
received a telegram to the effect that I would be in Des 
Moines — "and I want you to go down to Des Moines, 
and go in my private car with me." You can all imagine 
how the 15-year-old boy felt at that. It illustrates per- 
fectly the Colonel's wanting to make other people happy. 
The boy said he would have to go and ask his mother. 
It is unnecessary to say that the mother gave her consent. 

Mr. Fiala and others have told us about the Colonel's 
ability to remember. I learned very early in the journey 
that this was true. While we were on the steamer we 
frequently discussed zoological problems, particularly 
ornithology. I would tell him my belief in regard to this 
or that; but long before we reached the River of Doubt 
I found I must be exceedingly careful in my statements, 
because he was apt to come back at me, and say "Here, 
Cherrie, back such and such a time you told me this and 

23 



that, and now you are telling me another story about 
the same thing." 

Just a little now about the River of Doubt, of which 
there isn't any doubt in the minds of any of us who went 
down the stream. I don't think any of us would have 
come out had the Colonel not been with us. And yet 
the Colonel almost stayed there. There were a good many 
days, a good many mornings, when I looked at Colonel 
Roosevelt and said to myself, he won't be with us tonight ; 
and I would say the same thing in the evening, he can't 
possibly live until morning. I can't speak of the others, 
but I know as far as Kermit and myself were concerned, 
the fact that the Colonel was with us gave us energy to 
do things we couldn't possibly have done otherwise. Mr. 
Coles and Mr. Fiala have both spoken about the Colonel's 
individual strength. It brings to my mind one day after 
we had lost three or four canoes, and were in dire straits 
indeed. We had some down to the foot of a long rapids, 
and the canoe men were to run the rapids with the empty 
canoes. We had carried the contents to the foot of the 
rapids, and the men had succeeded in getting down most 
of the canoes successfully. I had wandered away from 
the rest of the party, and was at the foot of the rapids, 
watching the canoe men coming down. They had a 
balsa, two boats lashed together side by side, an unwieldy 
craft that was caught in the angry whirl of waters 
and capsized. By some strange chance the two canoes 
instead of being whirled away and crushed were 
thrust down and held by the force of the current against 
some rocks. The two canoe men had managed to keep 
hold of the canoes and stood waist deep exerting all their 
strength to try and hold them, although as a matter of 
fact it was hardly necessary, for the force of the current 
held the boats. I rushed in but couldn't do anything 
alone, so getting out I ran as fast as I could to the foot 
of the rapids, and gave the alarm "two boats are capsized 
and held against the rocks by the current, if they wash 

24 



loose they will be crushed among the boulders." The 
Colonel and other members of the party responded 
instantly, but the Colonel was the first one in the water. 
We all followed as quickly as we could, and working in 
the water up to our armpits, finally, with our united 
efforts, we were able to raise the two boats, and save 
them. 

At that time the Colonel received a severe bruise on 
one of his legs, a wound that troubled him from that time 
forward. Indeed, it was the first night after that accident 
that he was seriously ill, his temperature going up to 
something like 105°. From that time on he was a very 
sick man. 

We lost one boat after another, and lost so much of 
our food that we were on very much less than half rations. 
Kermit and I had to watch the Colonel to prevent his 
giving to the camaradas his share of the food. He began 
to fail, almost immediately after he was sick with the 
fever. He seemed to feel that he was a burden, that he 
wasn't helping. Whenever either Kermit or I would 
protest about his giving his portion of the food to the 
canoe men he would say, I can't do anything to help and 
they need the food. We had to watch him constantly, 
and reached the point where if he didn't eat all of his 
share either Kermit or I would take what was left and 
guard it until a later meal. We had so very little that 
every mouthful counted at that time. 

Finally, we reached a point in the river where the 
stream cut its course through a range of hills, rushing 
down through a very narrow gorge for 300 yards. The 
walls of the canyon here where nearly vertical, coming 

down right to the water's edge. On our arrival at that 
point we made our camp at the head of the rapids, just 
before they plunge down through the canyon, while Colo- 
nel Rondon and Lieutenant Lyra went ahead to make an 
examination; to see if it would be possible for us to get 

25 



our four remaining canoes down. I shall never forget 
the look on Colonel Rondon's face when he returned 
and reported. "We will have to abandon all our canoes, 
and every man fight for himself." Had we abandoned 
the canoes at that point I don't believe that any member 
of our party would have come out ; it would have simply 
been folly. The Indians were on all sides, although we 
were never attacked. But the fate of a later expedition 
that the Brazilian Government sent down through the 
same stream has proved that the Indians would have been 
very hostile. They were hostile to the second expedition, 
in fact annihilating the party completely. That night 
Colonel Roosevelt called Kermit and me to him and said — 
he was unable to walk, — he turned first to me and said, 
"Cherrie, I want you and Kermit to go ahead. We have 
reached the point where some of us must stop. I feel 
I am only a burden to the party." He was prepared 
to make the great sacrifice. It isn't necessary for 
me to say that both Kermit and I immediately said and 
did everything that was in our power — there wasn't a 
moment from that time forward that either Kermit or 
myself didn't watch the Colonel, to prevent him from 
carrying out what he felt w^as a necessity, that is, that 
he must relieve the party of what he considered a burden 
to the party. Thank God he came through. 

"All credit should be given to Kermit for our 
finally getting our canoes through the narrow canyon. 
We worked there nearly a week, and succeeded 
in getting three canoes down safely. The few supplies 
still remaining had to be carried over the divide or range 
of hills. I assisted the Colonel, and we spent the entire 
day making the trip over the hill and down to the foot 
of the rapids. We had learned long before that wherever 
the stream entered among the hills that we were in for 
trouble. From the top of this range we could look down 
and see the River of Doubt. (At that time it was the River 
Roosevelt. We had long before passed the point where 

26 



Colonel Rondon had rechristened the stream), Hke an 
arrow of light between the walls of green forest, finally 
disappearing among the hills in the distance. I am sure 
every member of our party, as he looked from the top 
of that divide and saw where the river disappeared, felt 
his heart sink with dread. We were so weak from the 
lack of food, the lack of proper food. We had been eat- 
ing a great deal of the tops of the palms at that time, 
and eating it raw. It tastes a little bit like celery when 
fresh. We had nothing else a good many days. We 
could not possibly have made another long carry or fight 
with rapids. 

During the night when we camped at the foot of 
the canyon, Kermit was on his watch, I could have reached 
the Colonel from my hammock. I had been dozing off, 
and was awakened with the murmur of voices, 
the Colonel and Kermit talking. The first thing I heard 
was the Colonel saying to Kermit, "Did Cherrie have a 
good dinner tonight?" As a matter of fact we hadn't had 
very much of anything. Kermit said, "Yes, father, Cherrie 
had a fine dinner." "That is good," said the Colonel, and 
there the conversation dropped. Speaking of a good dinner, 
when food was scarcest and tkings looked most gloomy 
the Colonel and I had a great many talks about what 
we were going to have when we got out. I don't think 
either of us expected to come out. But the Colonel and 
I would tell what we were going to have as soon as we 
got out. My favorite dish, when I got home, was going 
to be pancakes and maple syrup with cream. The Colonel 
said he was going to have mutton chops with the tail 
to them. Kermit would listen as long as he could, and 
finally would get up and go away where he couldn't hear 
us talking about things to eat. Perhaps I might tell a 
little bit more about Kermit and myself. Maybe I shouldn't 
be proud of this story, but I am nevertheless. Kermit 
and I had two or three bottles of whiskey. We felt the 
need of spiritual help occasionally on the stream going 

27 



down. The first bottle disappeared quickly; we had quite 
generous drinks. The second bottle went very much 
slower. When we got the third bottle out the first 
night, we held it up and took a pencil and marked off: 
this is the I 0th, the 1 1 th, the I 2th, 1 3th, 1 4th, 1 5th,— 
marked off the amount we could take from that. We 
figured we had gone down 200 miles, and only had 400 
miles more to go. So you can imagine the marks were 
close together on the bottle. The Colonel would watch 
us when we looked longingly at the bottle, and said "I 
am sorry I can't enjoy that; but I wouldn't, if I could. 
It would take too much away from your pleasure." 

There was never once in that journey that Colonel 
Roosevelt didn't think first of someone else. It was his 
wish to be useful to others always. Whenever one of 
the canoemen was ill the Colonel was the first to inquire 
about the man. There is nothing that I am so grateful 
for as the fact that I knew Colonel Roosevelt, and knew 
him intimately. Knowing him was an inspiration, and, 
— well, — I don't know how to express it, so I guess I 
had better not try, I think I have said all 1 can tonight. 
I wish it might have been a great deal more, but it has 
been just as it came to me. 

I was in the consulate at La Guayra, Venezuela, when 
the Consul received the cable announcing Colonel Roose- 
velt's death, he handed it to me without a word. When 
I read that message the tears came to my eyes — as they 
do now. 

The Chairman: In a studio on the second floor 
of the American Museum there is growing now from 
clay a lion, that has all the alertness and power that 
belonged both to the real lion in Africa and to Colonel 
Roosevelt. Carl Akeley will tell us of memories of 
Colonel Roosevelt and I hope of memorials to Colonel 
Roosevelt. 

28 



Mr. Carl Akeley 

I am perfectly sure that the members of no organiza- 
tion in the City of New York or in the county have ever 
listened to so interesting a series of intimate talks on 
Roosevelt as we have had tonight. These talks were made 
by men who knew him in the field, in camp, and on the 
long hard trail where the best and the worst that is in a 
man is certain to assert itself. These men knew, and 
knowing, loved Theodore Roosevelt. 

It was never my good fortune to be a member of a 
Roosevelt Expedition, but it was in the field that my 
admiration for him developed into a deep and sincere 
affection. It was in Africa — he had been there for many 
months and I was fresh from home. We had had an 
interesting morning with elephants that was not without 
its thrills. All our companions and followers had returned 
to camp for supplies and we made ourselves comfortable 
in the shade of an acacia tree to await their return. He 
spoke then of those things nearest his heart — his family 
and the future of his boys — and I realized then that I 
had not known him before. 

The Colonel frequently called me down pretty hard 
for not doing certain things, things for which I never 
seemed able to find time. But now that he is gone I 
feel that the things he wanted me to do are all important 
and must take precedence over all else. I know that 
many who knew him share this feeling — an incredible 
desire to do the things he would have wished and 
approved. So I feel that Colonel Roosevelt is still with 
us, a greater, stronger, more impelling force than ever. 
It was not Theodore Roosevelt who died at Sagamore 
Hill on that fateful morning in January, but the rank 
and file of his enemies were mowed down by the grim 
reaper. Theodore Roosevelt is now more than ever our 
big National asset if those who are left do their simple 

29 



and obvious duty — to perpetuate the traditions and 
ideals for which he stood. 

One of the important means to this end is the estab- 
lishment of memorials. I wish that these might be in 
such abundance that every boy and girl would be made 
familiar with the name of Theodore Roosevelt from 
childhood. The small boy in his "Injun" and "Cowboy" 
days will find in the life and writings of Roosevelt abun- 
dant inspiration to deeds of adventure and valour always 
with a background of sportsmanship and manliness, an 
ideal idol for Americans through all periods of life and 
in all relations with life from childhood to old age. 

That Memorials to Roosevelt will be erected through- 
out the land there is no doubt. At the present time count- 
less plans are under consideration. The Roosevelt Mem- 
orial Association, a national organization, has under way 
three definite projects, the Roosevelt Memorial Park at 
Oyster Bay, a National Monument in Washington, and 
a Foundation for the development and application of the 
policies and ideals of Theodore Roosevelt for the benefit 
of the American people. 

Our fellow member, Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, is Chair- 
man of the National Committee on the Roosevelt Mem- 
orial Bird Fountain. The purpose of this organization 
is to erect a beautiful fountain commemorative of the 
work of Roosevelt in the Conservation of Bird Life. The 
opportunity to contribute to this fund is open and there 
should be a hearty response from the members and friends 
of the Explorers Club for we are all lovers of wild life and 
the Great American who has done more for its conservation 
than any other man. 

The Chairman: I don't know much about the 
proprieties and etiquette of meetings of this sort, and I 
regret to say I don't know as much as some of you do 
about the constitution of our club. I don't know just what 

30 



such a meeting may or may not do, according to our 
fundamental law. But I do think we want to support 
big projects such as that outlined by Mr. Coles, and the 
things that Mr. Akeley has mentioned; and one thing 
that does come within our province, is to act upon 
Major Fiala's suggestion, that we do something to deser- 
vedly recognize the work of Colonel Rondon. I will read 
again a section from Colonel Roosevelt's letter that deals 
with Colonel Rondon: 

"He has had no proper recognition of his really 
great feats, although I tried to get both the English 
and American Geographic Societies to do as they 
ought to have done for him." 

There is probably nothing we could do that would 
please Colonel Roosevelt better, and it certainly agrees 
with our own sentiments too, so I suggest that the mat- 
ter be discussed, and if you feel like that a motion be 
made with this end in view. 



Mr. Akeley: I will make the motion to award to 
Colonel Rondon the medal of the Explorers' Club, with 
such inscription as may be proper, (motion seconded.) 

The Chairman: Though this medal will be struck 
in bronze it signifies the highest honor within the power 
of the Club to bestow. You have heard the motion and 
it seems to me such a well understood matter needs no 
discussion. 

(The Chairman then put the motion, and de- 
clared the same to be unanimously carried.) 

The Chairman: The Secretary needs no instruc- 
tions in the matter, and will take the regular steps to in- 
form Colonel Rondon concerning the action of the Club. 

If there is nothing further to come before the meeting 
a motion to adjourn is in order. 

Adjourned 
31 



